5 As a matter of fact, many sources are available to indicate the students’
attitudes towards learning English as a foreign language and some factors influencing their attitudes to study. There are many schools, institutions, and courses that become
so interesting to visit in which we can gain much information. Nevertheless, what makes the writer so interested in deciding to do such a research of attitude analysis at
SMA 4 Binjai, Sumatera Utara, is because the writer has something to reveal and expose there. Choosing the second-grade students of Natural Science Program as the
object of study makes the writer so enthusiastic to write this thesis, as one of the requirements for undergraduate university students before obtaining a bachelor
degree in the University of Sumatera Utara. SMA 4 Binjai is a place where the writer used to study and acquire a knowledge officially. In the high school, the writer
studied many things related to English. For this reason, the writer is so interested in discussing the things which could improve the quality of teaching and learning
English in the school in particular, and Indonesia in general.
1.2 Problems of the Study
Based on the background given above, here are some problems of the study in this thesis:
a What are the attitudes of second-grade students of Natural Science
Program at SMA 4 Binjai towards learning English? b
What are some of the factors that influence the second-grade students’ attitudes towards learning English?
c What should the second-grade students’ English teachers do regarded to
the students’ attitudes towards learning English?
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1.3 Objectives of the Study
In accordance with the problems written above, I myself, as the writer of this thesis, provide some objectives as follow:
a To find out the attitudes of second-grade students of Natural Science
Program towards learning English b
To find out some of the factors that influence the second-grade students’ attitudes towards learning English
c To find out what the second-grade students’ English teachers should do
regarded to the students’ attitudes towards learning English
1.4 Scope of the Study
This study merely focuses on what the second-grade students of Natural Science Program going to SMA 4 Binjai, Sumatera Utara think of learning English
as a foreign language. There are three classes for Natural Science Program at SMA 4 Binjai but the one which becomes the sample is only the students in class XI IPA 1.
In the classroom, there are 43 students listed in the attendance list.
1.5 Significances of the Study
Hopefully, the findings of this study will be useful for both, the English teachers and second-grade students at my former high school, that is SMA 4 Binjai,
Sumatera Utara. For English teachers, it is expected that this study will create a new perspective since the world’s technology has developed more rapidly indicating that
a modern and sophisticated era has come up to support people’s lives. For the second-grade students, it could become a trigger for them to be more enthusiastic and
active in learning in order to make a more advanced Indonesia.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
